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8.21.2015

Maternity & Nursery Photos


I can't say enough amazing things about Justine Linn Photography.
Justine is a dear friend of mine. We went to high school together, but recently reconnected. 
And by recently, I mean a few years ago now that I think about it just from all the photo sessions we have done together... 

I feel like when you pass 25 your mind freezes life in time! I still can't believe I've almost been out of high school for 10 years. That sounds weird to say, and makes me feel so old. Almost as old as one of my little cheerleaders saying "Oh I love this song, old music is the best!" while humming along to N*Sync Bye Bye Bye! Haha

Okay back to Justine...(squirrel!)

She has been able to capture ever aspect of my life post marriage. 
She documented our new home with a photo shoot of the hubby and I when we purchased our first home last March!

As well as our pregnancy announcement photos, that we used to tell the world we were expecting. She has captured events since then such as our gender reveal party & my baby shower. 

So of course I couldn't imagine anyone else taking my maternity photos. 
We wanted to do a really laid back, simple, lifestyle like photo shoot.
So she came to our home, and did her magic. 

I wanted some of Levi and I, not just myself as Hadley will be able to look back on these
and see how we both appeared at this point in our life, while waiting for her arrival. 

I also had her take some boudoir like photos of myself, that won't be shared here! Sorry ya'll! lol but they were fantastic and probably some of my faves! 

Enjoy ! & Contact her for all your photo needs!
She just did a shoot for me this week actually for Hadley's Half Birthday
which I'm sure most of you saw :)







You think while pregnant, oh I can't wait to get rid of this belly!
Then you do, and then you miss that bump so much!






I also had her snap some shots of Hadley's nursery.
If you have been following this blog for some time now, you know we have been renovating every room in our house little by little, and this one was no exception. 
The boys tore up the carpet displaying the gorgeous original hardwood floors. 

When we first moved in we actually used this room as our master. 
The walls were a dark chocolate brown. 
We decided to switch, and wanted to brighten it up. 
At the time we picked the paint we didn't know if it was a 
boy or a girl so keeping it gender neutral we went with a light tan. 

Once we discovered it was a girl, and back then I wasn't a fan of pink ( haha, its my world now)
I strayed away from the typical choices and went with gold, coral & gray accents. 
We painted her closets (yes she has two) coral & took the doors off and put up curtains to give it a 
softer, more open look. 

The house came with these amazinggggggg built in valance boxes, that we painted coral
and my husband accented with this adorable printed burlap. He is so proud of his find and addition, so I gotta give credit where credit is due. 


I just bought her letters at walmart and painted the coral. 
But the wings, lemme tell you about these wings. 

There is a store I talk about all the time here in Canal called Georgie Emerson Vintage that is like heaven on earth. Levi and I have a full size hanging above our bed in our new master.. 
and we found out it was a girl I knew I had to have a mini pair hanging above her crib. So I asked the owner to see if the girl who made them could do a special order, and she did!!!!

The very talented woman and her daughter are now dear clients of mine & they are the sweetest. 


Most of her wall decor is from that store as well. Polly, the owner always has the best quotes and when thinking of Hadley's room, I wanted it to be able to evolve with her style and life as she grew. 

I am a VERY positive person and am a firm believer in the law of attraction so I loved nothing more than the thought of Hadley being surrounded by lots of positive and inspiring words. 

 We made in little wall in between her two closets a chalkboard. I know she will love it when she gets older, and I will probably regret it as I'm sure she will think every wall should be written on (hehe) 

But I use it now to track her monthly milestones & it will be fun to document school days when we get there.... 

 The little vanity in her one closet is vintage and from another store here locally, It actually opens up and has drawers on one side & shelves on the other. I know as she gets into make up & hair (It's inevitable right? I mean momma is a stylist....) she will love it... But I also thought it would make an adorable homework station in her early school years, ya know before boys!






I love that Justine captured this little frame. I tracked Hadley's growth every week during my pregnancy. I looked forward to Saturdays when my what to expecting app would update with the new weeks info! I would run in there and change the board. 

This was actually the last one I did I believe.. 
Since I was induced the following week. 


I have to comment on this stunning "H"
Anyone who knows me , or follows me can clearly see my obsession for all things monogram...
(Which come to think of it, I'm kinda slacking on & should probably go monogram crazy soon)

Hadley's cousin Maguire, on daddy's side had this made for her. Its perfect, the detail is amazing. 


If I couldn't find Tyson, this is where he would be. Animals have such a sense about them. 
It's like he knew he was waiting for an angel.



He may have been a daddy's boy, but that was before he met mommy. Since we moved him in with us, he hasn't left my side. Especially during my pregnancy. He was so protective of me. 


Hadley's nursery has changed so much since this.. 
Almost all the furniture has been re-arranged for what actually works better for us. 

More decor has been added...and stuff. Lots of stuff. 

It's funny when planning for your first, all the things you think you'll need that you never use & then all the things you should have been stocking up on that you never even thought of. 

Everything always works out, somehow, and always for the best. 



8.20.2015

DIY Winter Wonderland Baby Shower

In honor of Miss Hadley turning 6 months old this week, and me getting my life (the computer) organized with all my photos finally I thought I would post about her beautiful baby shower we had just 19 days before she arrived.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, I LOVE LOVE LOVE decorating, party hosting & if they two of those things come together in one glorious event I'm ecstatic! So needless to say we were anything less than traditional when it came to planning my shower. Yes I know normally a friend of mine or family member from the Daddy to Be's side plans the shower however my mom and I have got this down to a science, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to plan HADLEY'S FIRST EVENT!!



At this point we still thought she was coming mid march. We had no intentions of having yet another February babe in the family (her grandmothers on both sides, step grandfather, and soon to be auntie)

So little did we know we were right on target for her birthday when we picked the Winter Wonderland theme.





We made everything our self's, and used tons of burlap that a friend donated to me after her wedding last year. Most of the winter decor is actually what you will find up in my house around the holiday season, minus the deer- they are up year round! I may have a bit of a deer obsession. 

My lovely favors were made by Levi's grandmother. 
They are adorable pink about to "pop" popcorn bags photographed above at the welcome table. 

We had a chili bar, 
My mom makes the BEST chili ever, at least I think so. 
My guest seemed to think so as well since we had two huge crock pots worth of it & it didn't make it til the end to feed all the guys when they came back to help us load gifts & tear things down!

You can also see we had a hot coca bar, as well as some sweet treats that aren't shown that consisted of donuts, rice crispy treats & these amaziingggg sugar cookies my mom and I have made for almost anything we can make an excuse for,  by this local lady that are just to die for! We even had her whip up a batch for our family Christmas this past year! If you live in canal & want her info, I will share our secret! Hehe






I know I can't be the only person who hates playing those silly games at 
every shower??! So......I came up with an alternative. 

We just set up little stations all over the room for people to do. This one was cute stories about Levi & myself when we were little and the guest had to guess which one of us did it!
 Although if I remember correctly I forgot to set out the answer sheets so I ended up just reading them out to every one!

We also did a time capsule. Where I had everyone write in birthday cards that I will save for when Hadley turns 18!

There was one where people guessed Hadley's due date (Boy were we all wrong!!!) & this headband making station! Because lets be honest when it comes to girls, the more the merrier in this department!


We also had a station where people could color different letters of the alphabet for me to put into a notebook to help Haddy learn her ABC's one day!




I was so blessed and had both sides of our families all be able to attend. I believe we ended up with 60 some people!! I just remember adding tables and chairs constantly. 
The love in that room was over whelming. 

These shots really show off the venue. 
If you are ever tight on your budget look into your local town hall or community center. 
You are usually able to rent the space our for FREE if you or someone booking it lives there. 
We scored the jackpot with an old historical building in downtown Groveport, my hometown. 
This was a second story ballroom. 



 My mother. It has been so amazing watching her become a Grandmother. 
I feel like its the only way to repay her for being the very best mother to me. 



 I cried the entire time through my gifts. The thought of Hadley being here, and in all the adorable little clothes we got. There were even some sentimental gifts that really brought on the tears. Like this quilt below; made by my moms aunt. 

All of my grandparents passed away, on both sides of my family before I graduated from high school. My moms parents & I were extremely close. Therefore to receive a precious gift like this that money can't by from someone still living on that side of the family meant more to me than she will ever know! Thanks again Aunt Nacny!!


She even stitched this special patch on it....

Levi's grandmother actually made 
Hadley a gorgeous quilt too, 
so she will have one from each side of the family to cherish!


Best Friends. 


More Best Friends!!! 
We actually get to raise our girls to be best friends together now! 
Little miss Allie is 6 weeks older than Hadley!
She surprised me with these BFF onsies she made, and you guessed it...
They made me cry!


 Bestest Best Friend, turned cousin! This amazing woman, just married my cousin and is due in December with her own little girl whom we can't wait to watch grow with cousin Haddy! 
Life is full of gifts, and the best ones don't come in boxes!


Little did I know in 3 short weeks I would be meeting our daughter. 
Thanks to pre-eclampsia scares I was induced at the end of my 36 weeks. 


Mommy &  Daddy to be!

"Best thing to happen to us, is when WE became THREE"